Jean de TINAN (1874-1898). 14 L.A.S., 1895-1898, to Pierre Louÿs; 35 pages in-8 or in-4, envelopes. Very beautiful correspondence, friendly and literary, to Pierre Louÿs, speaking also about their mistresses. 1895. - 29 September. He has just read the 3rd issue of Louÿs's L'Esclavage, and expresses his admiration for the "pure poet"... He adds: "Why have cholera, what foolishness - why drink any other water than Evian water (according to Monsieur Mallarmé)!" He is "provided with a little Berenice of love that I will adore for at least two moons. [...] The dedication I gave you is still missing the volume it would adorn. You are incapable, are you not, of blaming me for this detail of negligence, moreover... I am quite determined to work very seriously this winter (that - that is what I and Wagner call a motivational letter). In fact I have written 250 pages of a novel [L'Insatisfait] but I want to do it again in a different way - it looked too much, as a composition, like a horrible cacography from Lemerre's - it looked like something already chewed up, the proofs would have hurt my heart - I'd rather try to start again with the same details and the same spsychoses. So patience - dear and beloved dedicatee"... - Tuesday [December 3]. Argument with André Lebey (about a woman): "I am convinced that he did not realize his bad faith and unbearable conduct of a short while ago any more than he realized the strangeness of his attitude of last night - but as I love him far too much for these things not to cause me much pain, I prefer, by keeping only a casual relationship with him, to avoid that other bitterness and other offenses come to tarnish the memory that I like to keep better of one of the beings that I have certainly loved the most. I ask you to forgive me for bothering you with my sorrows, but I am really too heavy-hearted not to tell someone"... 1896. - February 10th. About the magazine Le Centaure. "We founded a magazine for young people with a closed editorial staff, then, wishing to count among us two friends whose character and talent were particularly sympathetic to us, we asked them to join us. Today we are thinking of asking a third [Viélé-Griffin]. I am not of the opinion that this should be done. Two things are, I believe, harmful to beginning writers: politeness and weakness. The example of our elders teaches us that it is only by very active intransigence that we can obtain a result. I am persuaded that it is by compromises of no more apparent importance than that which is proposed to us that they have failed to make full use of the admirable gifts which we love in many of them. I believe that all four of us are: Albert Lebey you and I agree on this point: we do not like the talent of Francis Vielé-Griffin. Whether it is a question of general aesthetics or of personal execution and talent, it does not matter. It is a fact. [...] We are all friends (or almost) at the review, so much the better; but in collaboration the friends of our friends are not our friends "... - Montigny sur Loing February 26. He invites her to join him: "(Bring Chrysis to warm your bed.) Nota bene. [...] My collage will end on Monday or Tuesday, and you would be very useful to me (if not to warm my bed), at least to prevent me from getting bored during the day. - Beautiful walks! Great landscapes! Moderate prices! Sailboats and fried food! Wines at discretion! [...] I do more d'Annunzio than Nature. Last night I finished a chapter "Why did you love me?" which is quite pure. I alone found the NeoAnnunziorism. He plagiarized Peladan! I will plagiarize Jules Bois! Joking aside, my novel [Penses-tu réussir!] is unquestionably one of the two or three truly intense and vibrant human works that have been written in the last twenty-five centuries. A particularly rich, supple and sensually nuanced language brings out the noble and beautiful thoughts and images that flow blenhorragically from my pen. I can now consider myself as the undisputed master of the contemporary novel and one has the right to expect more than the genius of one who so young has been able to touch with his powerful wing the snowiest peaks of human sensitivity and thought... - Saturday [February 29]. "Jeanne left me earlier than I thought without making the appeal to my generosity that I expected. - I had to choose between my love.r.r. which told me "hold her" and my purse which breathed: "She told you: I would like to stay, but you understand, I owe more than two hundred francs". I thought it was my duty not to hinder the freedom of work. Besides - oh great psychologist - you said it (at least you intend to say it)